I Understand Your Situation, Let Me Help You Figure It Out

Legal Direction is different than many business law firms because I’m a solopreneur as well as a lawyer.  This means I understand your challenges from the inside out, not just from a legal textbook.

Recently, I had an experience that reminded me exactly why this perspective matters—and why you need someone in your corner who truly gets what you're going through.

A North Carolina small business attorney who really gets your business is a great asset

I decided to open a Health Savings Account. Simple enough, right? "Just go to any bank," everyone told me. My financial advisor said it. Other attorney friends said it. A federal government website said it.  So I went to my bank. They don't handle HSAs. Their wealth manager had to “research it and get back to me.” I Googled “Where to Open an HSA Account” but didn’t want an online account where my contact was an 800 number. I wanted a referral to a local person  who could help me.  I wanted a relationship. 

Here I was—an educated professional with resources and connections—and I felt completely lost trying to accomplish something that was supposedly "simple." I didn't need Google -- I needed someone knowledgeable and trustworthy who could save me from wasting hours going in circles.

That's when it hit me: this is exactly what my small business clients experience when they're trying to navigate legal issues.

The Problem with "Just Google It"

We live in an age of information overload. You can Google anything. But Google can’t help you analyze the information.  Which answer is right for your specific situation in North Carolina? Which "expert" actually knows what they're talking about? Which solution will work given your particular constraints—limited time, limited budget, imperfect documentation?

Small business owners face this constantly. You're told you need an operating agreement for your LLC, but Google gives you templates from California. You read that you need to file annual reports, but can't find clear information about North Carolina's specific deadlines. You need more help, but do you need employees, contractors or 1099 employees (which isn’t really a thing)?

When Real Life Doesn't Match the Instructions

Let me give you a real example from my practice. I recently handled a closing for a client who was buying the assets of a small business. Simple transaction—except the seller had a business credit card that needed to be paid off at closing. The seller wasn't sophisticated. He sent me a screenshot of his credit card landing page showing the balance—but only the last four digits of the card number,  no dates, no indication of when interest would be charged, no formal payoff statement. Then he sent me a photo of the actual credit card number. You know what happens when you photograph a website? It comes out gray with lines running through it. But I printed it out anyway. 

I had no official payoff letter. No clean documentation. Just informal information and a deadline.

So what did I do? I went to a large national bank and asked the teller to help me pay off this credit card in person with the information I had. And it worked. The card got paid off. The closing happened. My client got his business.

Why This Matters to You

That closing reminded me how I approach legal work differently than many attorneys. Three qualities made it successful—the same entrepreneurial traits that help small business owners solve problems and keep moving forward:

• Be analytical. I identified the real problem: paying off that credit card by the closing deadline. I didn't get hung up on the lack of perfect documentation or waste time nagging the seller about proper procedures. I focused on the actual obstacle.

• Be flexible. Real life is messy. Small businesses don't always have their ducks in a row. Documents aren't always pristine. I was able to deviate from the standard playbook when the situation required it.

• Check your ego. I didn't know if the bank would help me. I went in humbly, and asked. I was up-front about the situation and that I might not have the right information to accomplish the task at hand. Gatekeepers have a lot of power and can use the bureaucracy for you or against you.  Humility can go a long way and arrogance can sink you quickly. 

These three qualities—analytical thinking, flexibility, and humility—are what separate successful small business owners from those who struggle. And they're exactly what you should look for in the professionals you hire to support your business.

What You Really Need

When you're running a small business in North Carolina, you don't need someone who makes you feel dumb for not knowing the answer. You don't need more Googling. You don't need someone who only works with "sophisticated" clients who have everything perfectly documented.

You need someone who knows the landscape, who can support and protect your business, and who will work with you exactly where you are—even when things are messy or imperfect.

Because sometimes the most valuable thing a professional can say is: "I understand your situation. Let me help you figure this out."

Need help with business formation, contracts, or other business law matters? Legal Direction protects and supports North Carolina small businesseswith practical legal guidance. Contact us to discuss how we can help your business succeed.